TIRANA, April 16/ATA/ Parliamentary proceedings were dominated by heated debates between the ruling majority and opposition over surging fuel prices.
Socialist Party MP Erion Braçe raised concerns about the functioning of the fuel market in Albania, stating that oil traders may have abused with prices in the past.
He argued that fuel prices in the past have remained unchanged for long periods, despite movements on international stock exchanges.
Speaking about the recent changes reflected by the Transparency Board, Braçe appreciated positive the fact that this mechanism is reflecting price fluctuations in the market in more real time. And he demanded increased transparency from the board, emphasizing the need to publish the price of tax-free oil entering Albania, as well as analyze data on exports to Kosovo, in order to more clearly understand the market’s performance during the recent period.
Further on, Mundësia Party Chairman Agron Shehaj accused the government and the ruling majority of neglecting obligations to act in their own self-interest. He said that the fuel market is controlled by a single entity.
On his part, Chairman of the SP parliamentary group Taulant Balla rejected Agron Shehaj’s claim that the fuel market is controlled by a single entity, emphasizing that according to public data from the Ministry of Finance, it is a diversified market with several main operators and dozens of smaller ones.
Balla also accused the opposition MP of misusing Democratic Party data.
At the end of his speech, Balla also spoke about the relations with the US, evaluating highly the appointment of the new ambassador as an indicator of the strong partnership between the two countries. /gj.m/j.p/p.s./
